How is the safest way to ship a computer?

[Growltiger]

I recently built a computer for my parents as an upgrade for their aging system and was thinking about shipping it to them rather than waiting until later this summer for me to drive across country to see them. I'm a little bit concerned though because of the internal components getting damaged during shipment. For example, the heat sink is pretty heavy and I'm afraid shipping could damage the motherboard. I can't exactly disassemble much of anything because I don't want to walk my parents through putting everything together.

I know there is always a risk with shipping anything, but I'm just wondering what the best way is to ship this bad boy or if I should just wait. I know there are lots of FS/FT people that can provide some input.

Thanks for your opinions/suggestions.

 

[Kenazo]

pack the computer full of foam peanuts? Just make sure your parents unpack it before they use it.*


*Disclaimer. I have never tried the above suggestion.

 

[Ausm]

Iuse use a professional shipping company like mailboxes etc. , It may be pricey but the guarantee their work

Sysadmin

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Sysadmin
Iuse use a professional shipping company like mailboxes etc. , It may be pricey but the guarantee their work

Sysadmin

i wanted to ship a computer through them once and they wanted $200 for it. F-that. i shipped it through a fedex depot in the box it came in (its a dell) and it cost me $30 for air.


if you think about it, dell ships that stuff all the time without anything happening to it. ship it air and insure it and you'll be covered.

 

[Tom]

yea, but Dell designs their systems to be shipped. I would be worried about some of the HSFs that people install on home builts.

 

[saxophonoia]

A big box with either a lot of bubble wrap or peanuts is usually what we use at work to ship pc's to get fixed if need be. Haven't had anything bad happen yet.

 

[Growltiger]

I have the original box for the case, which is what I was planning on using. The processor is an Athlon 2500 with a Thermaltake HSF. and the case is an Antec Sonata.

 

[loup garou]

I usually fill the inside with bubble wrap or those air-paks, especially around the HSF.

 

[MikePanic]

anti-static bags - bubble wrap... and those packing air-bags

 

[CtK]

if ur worried about the huge heatsink exchange it with a smaller one and i wouldnt use those foam pellets inside the case small pieces could get caught somewhere and you would not know
just use those air bags thingys inside

 

[Growltiger]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but won't those plastic bags or bubble wrap cause static?

 

[Ness]

Summer isn't that far off. Save yourself the stress and possible problems and just wait.

Rarely do good things come from shipping PCs.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Sysadmin
Iuse use a professional shipping company like mailboxes etc. , It may be pricey but the guarantee their work

Sysadmin

i wanted to ship a computer through them once and they wanted $200 for it. F-that. i shipped it through a fedex depot in the box it came in (its a dell) and it cost me $30 for air.


if you think about it, dell ships that stuff all the time without anything happening to it. ship it air and insure it and you'll be covered.

If you have the same box the computer was shipped in then I totally agree with you. What I am talking about is if you have no box and shaped foam to properly ship the PC.


Sysadmin

 

[aircooled]

I just shipped a computer cross country (NC to Seattle), I used the original case box which had those molded styrofoam form fitting pieces.

Shipped it Fed-Ex Saver with insurance and it was a little over $40. Made it there with no damage whatsoever.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: Growltiger
I have the original box for the case, which is what I was planning on using. The processor is an Athlon 2500 with a Thermaltake HSF. and the case is an Antec Sonata.

Double box it... bigger box with foam peanuts to hold the box with the case..... if you have a massive slk800 copper HSF or similar with clips only, then dont ship it ground, they will beat the hell out of it.

 

[amdskip]

Go to walmart and ask someone working in shoes if you could have a box that the shoes ship in. They are a little larger than a case box and you can put peanuts inside it along with the case in the case box so that everything is double boxed for more protection.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I just shipped a computer cross country (NC to Seattle), I used the original case box which had those molded styrofoam form fitting pieces.

Shipped it Fed-Ex Saver with insurance and it was a little over $40. Made it there with no damage whatsoever.

Ive done it that way and had it damaged by each major shipping company, but this was back when I was shipping a few systems a week..... learned my lesson there. Sure it may be the delivery companies fault, but when your buyer destroys the box and burns all evidence of insurance, its kinda hard to work with 🙂